Almindingen

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Almindingen
Ekkodalen, Bornholm (2012-07-10), by Klugschnacker in Wikipedia (11).JPG
Ekkodalen in Almindingen
Map
Location map Denmark Bornholm.PNG
Map of Bornholm; Almindingen, the largest forest area spreading from the centre to the east
Geography
Location Island of Bornholm, Denmark
Area38 km2 (15 sq mi)
Almindingen Station AlmindingenStationSporside.jpg
Almindingen Station

Almindingen ("the common") is one of the largest forests in Denmark. It is located in the centre of the island of Bornholm. [1] The forest covers 3,800 hectares (9,400 acres), making it Denmark's third largest. Though it was at one time common grazing land for cattle, it was fenced in for forestry in 1809 by Hans Rømer, the forest supervisor. As a result, by the beginning of the 20th century, Bornholm had become Denmark's most forested region. [2]

Contents

Bornholm's highest point is Rytterknægten at 162 metres (531 ft), where there is a memorial to Frederick VII of Denmark and Countess Danner's visit to the island in 1851. In 2012, the Nature Agency brought seven European bison from a Polish primeval forest to a 200 acres (81 ha) paddock in Almindingen, marking the first time in 2,500 years that Europe's heaviest land-living mammals were in Denmark. [3] [4] There are a number of walking paths through Almindingen such as the ones leading to Ekkodal and Gamleborg.

Geography

Almindingen's habitat has been described as a "green oasis" or a "Disneyland for nature lovers". The geographical features include many small valleys and a large rift valley Ekkodalen ("echo valley"), with steep rocky cliffs, two large marshy areas, several bogs and fens, with stretches of open heath to the east. There are patches of the original mixed woods and oak woods. The many watch towers facilitate bird watching at close quarters. [5] [6] There are observation towers at Udkæret, Bastemose, Svinemose, Ølene, and Rømersvej. Many public roads, forest tracks, and paths are available, as well as some rudimentary camp sites. [6]

Conservation

Though the forest is subject to commercial use, it has some areas which remain 'untouched' as woodland and grazing pastures. Older methods of management are sometimes employed where they can enhance the habitat for flora and fauna. In this conservation effort, the EU Birds Directive and the EU Habitat Directive have brought Almindingen under protection guidelines. Ølene has been declared a nature reserve and totally prohibited for visitors. Conservation orders are also in force for Ekkodalen, and the two bogs of Vallensgård and Kærgård. The Important Bird Area organization, BirdLife International, has listed both Almindingen and Rø Plantage. Conservation effort also covers recreational use, preservation of cultural relics and natural scenic locations. [6]

Fauna and flora

Red kite Milvus milvus R(ThKraft).jpg
Red kite

The fauna reported by the European Environment Agency in the area in Almindingen, Paradisbakkerne and Ølene are:

Places of interest

Bornholm has both varied natural features, such as Almindingen, Hammeren, Jons Kapel, Paradisbakkerne, and Dueodde, [8] as well as Denmark's tallest lighthouse. [9] Places of interest in Almindingen include the ruins of Lilleborg Castle, the Kristianshøj Inn, well built forest ranger residences, the arboretum, Bolsterbjerg, Gamleborg, and to the east, the hills of Paradisbakkerne. Towers for bird-watching are erected to view birds of prey, ducks, geese and sometimes large cranes. The Nexø-Dueodde tourist information office provides information to tourists. [5] [10]

There are four designated walks:

See also

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Bornholm is a Danish island in the Baltic Sea, to the east of the rest of Denmark, south of Sweden, northeast of Germany and north of Poland. Occupying an area of 588.36 square kilometres (227.17 sq mi), the island had a total population of 39,610 on 1 October 2021.

Ertholmene

Ertholmene is a small archipelago in Denmark. The largest island is Christiansø, and its name often refers to the entire archipelago. Ertholmene is situated 18 kilometres (11 mi) northeast of Gudhjem, Bornholm, and contains Denmark's easternmost point. Two of its islands, Christiansø and Frederiksø, are inhabited, and their combined permanent population is 89. The archipelago has a total area of 39 hectares. Its name is derived from the Danish for "pea islands".

Nexø Town in Capital, Denmark

Nexø, sometimes spelled Neksø, is a town on the east coast of the Baltic island of Bornholm, Denmark. With a population of 3,686, it is the second largest town, as well as the largest fishing port on the island. Fishing was previously the mainstay of the town's economy. Nexø is also the site of a distillery and a mustard factory. The town is also a port of call for the passenger ferries linking Bornholm with Kołobrzeg in Poland. Dueodde, the largest beach on Bornholm, is located south of Nexø, in the southeastern corner of the island.

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Gamleborg

Gamleborg, also known as Gamleborg Viking Fortress, was the first fortification on the Danish island of Bornholm. Built around 750 AD, it was the seat of the kings of Bornholm during the Viking age (750–1050) and early Middle Ages (1050–1150). The massive fortress is 264 metres (866 ft) long from north to south and 110 metres (360 ft) wide from east to west, with gates to the north and southwest. Around 1100, significant alterations were made and it was reinforced, but it was abandoned soon afterwards in favour of the fortification of Lilleborg, roughly 700 metres (2,300 ft) to the northeast.

Paradisbakkerne

Paradisbakkerne, also Helvedesbakkerne, is a group of hills in Denmark, located in the east of the island of Bornholm. It is situated approximately 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) northwest of Nexø. The privately owned area consists of hilly, rocky landscapes with narrow rift valleys lined by almost vertical cliffs, making it popular for nature walks. Typically, the hills rise to a height of 30–50 metres (98–164 ft) above the surroundings in a forested area which also has a number of small lakes and marshes. Midterpilt, 113 metres (371 ft) above sea level, is one of the highest points. Although much of the area is now wooded, it was once covered with heather and low shrubs, making it suitable for grazing. Paradisbakkerne has a long cultural history, attested by numerous place names with their own legends and stories. These include Slingestenen, Linkisten, Ligstenen, Dybedal, Ravnedal, Majdal, and Gamle Dam.

Rytterknægten

Rytterknægten is the highest point on the Danish island of Bornholm at 162 metres (531 ft) above sea level. The bierg is situated on a wooded bedrock of gaiter formations in the middle of Almindingen forest. Aakirkeby is located about 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) to the southeast.

Hammeren

Hammeren is a protected area and promontory in Denmark on the northernmost point of Bornholm island. It projects into Sæne Bugt bay in the Baltic Sea. The area includes Hammersø, the largest lake on the island and the only tarn in Denmark, and a hill, 276 feet (84 m) in height, named Stejlebjerg. It is steep to the southwest but slopes gradually to the northeast, and is separated from the rest of the land by a valley.

Dueodde

Dueodde is a beach in Denmark on Bornholm's southernmost tip. It is known for its very fine white sand. The area around Dueodde was originally a large sandy area. In the eighteenth century it was planted with pines, as well as Ammophila and Leymus grasses to reduce sand drift. Today, Dueodde is a protected area. The sand at Dueodde moves easily with the wind to form dunes. The vast dune area and associated sandy beach start at Haslemere extending some 30 kilometres (19 mi) almost without interruption. Apart from the beach, one noteworthy feature is the Dueodde Lighthouse on the southern tip. It is the tallest on the island. Built in 1962, it offers a panoramic view of the surroundings. The two old lighthouses, Dueodde Syd and Dueodde Nord are not open for the public.

Jons Kapel

Jons Kapel is a rock bluff in Denmark on Bornholm's west coast, about 7 kilometres (4.3 mi) north of Hasle. The formations are the result of the waves beating against the rock at a time when the sea level was considerably higher than it is today. The cliff is 135 feet (41 m) in height. Named after a hermit who resided on the bluff, Jon's caves are visible from the beach below the rocks.

Dueodde Lighthouse

The Dueodde Lighthouse is located on the Danish island of Bornholm. It was built during the years 1960–62 and commissioned on 15 August 1962. It is 47 m (154 ft) in height, with a focal height of 48 m (157 ft). It is the nodal point of the southeast coast line, warning ships to keep away from the extreme southern tip of the island. Dueodde Lighthouse is Denmark's tallest lighthouse and one of the most important lighthouses of the Baltic Sea.

Hammeren Lighthouse

Hammeren Lighthouse is located on the Hammeren peninsula on the northwestern tip of the Danish island of Bornholm.

Rønne Lighthouse

Rønne Lighthouse is located close to the waterfront in Rønne on the Danish island of Bornholm.

Lilleborg, Bornholm

Lilleborg is a ruined castle in the Almindingen forest in the centre of the Danish island of Bornholm. It is situated close to the main road from Rønne to Svaneke. Of the Danish fortresses built in the 12th century, Lilleborg most closely resembles those of Saxon architectural style.

Skagen Lighthouse

Skagen Lighthouse, also known as Skagen's Grey Lighthouse, is an active lighthouse 4 km (2.5 mi) northeast of Skagen in the far north of Jutland, Denmark. Designed by architect Niels Sigfred Nebelong, it was brought into operation on 1 November 1858.

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References

  1. "Danmarks skove i tal" (in Danish). Træ Er Miljø. Archived from the original on 2012-03-08. Retrieved 20 October 2012.
  2. 1 2 "Walks – Almindingen". Bornholm.info. Archived from the original on 2013-02-18. Retrieved 21 October 2012.
  3. "Europæisk Bison" (in Danish). Naturstyrelsen. Archived from the original on 2013-09-10. Retrieved 20 October 2012.
  4. "Almindingen", Den Store Danske. (in Danish) Retrieved 21 October 2012.
  5. 1 2 "The large forest". Almindgen.dk. Retrieved 22 October 2012.
  6. 1 2 3 4 "The island of Bornholm". Natur og fugle Dans Orntogisk Forening. Archived from the original on 3 November 2007. Retrieved 21 October 2012.
  7. "Ecological information: Fauna and Flora mentioned in site". European Environment Agency. Archived from the original on 2013-01-06. Retrieved 21 October 2011.
  8. Blangstrup, Johan Christian; Halvorsen, Jens Braage; Fischer, Karl Kristian Emil (1894). Salmonsens store illustrerede konversationsleksikon: en nordisk encyklopædi (in Danish) (Public domain ed.). Brødrene Salmonsen (J. Salmonsen). pp.  400. Retrieved 23 October 2012.
  9. Rowlett, Russ. "Lighthouses of Denmark: Bornholm". The Lighthouse Directory. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill . Retrieved 23 October 2012.
  10. "Bicycle route - Rønne-Almindingen-Aarsdale". Destination Bornhom. Archived from the original on 2013-02-18. Retrieved 21 October 2011.

Coordinates: 55°07′26″N14°55′30″E / 55.124°N 14.925°E / 55.124; 14.925